Continuously variable transmission on a motorcycle
AssigneeRadial Engine Innovations Holding LLC
InventorCharles Mitchell Boulton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a continuous variable transmission for a motorcycle having a radial engine, the transmission including a cone shaped gear, a driveshaft received in one end of the cone shaped gear, a gear plate having an angled geared surface configured to mate with the cone shaped gear, a drive clutch, a crank shaft extending through the drive clutch, and a plurality of fingers secured to the drive clutch and configured to move from a first position to a second position wherein the fingers are in a first position at a first speed and the fingers are at a second position, at a second speed.
Claims20
A motorcycle comprising:
- a motorcycle frame;
- at least two ground engaging wheels operatively connected to the motorcycle frame;
- a saddle seat supported by the motorcycle frame adapted to be straddled by a riding motorcycle operator;
- a footrest beneath the seat;
- a steering mechanism operatively connected to the motorcycle frame, wherein the steering mechanism supports a throttle and a clutch lever;
- a radial engine supported by the motorcycle frame to power at least one of the ground engaging wheels;
- and
- a continuously variable transmission (CVT) supported by the motorcycle frame and coupled to the radial engine providing a variety of effective gear ratios.
A method comprising:
- providing a motorcycle having a radial engine supported by a frame and having a continuously variable transmission (CVT) connected to the radial engine, wherein the motorcycle also includes a saddle seat adapted to support a riding operator and a footrest beneath the saddle seat, and a steering mechanism, wherein the steering mechanism supports a throttle and a clutch lever;
- effecting the radial engine by actuating the throttle on the steering mechanism;
- engaging the continuously variable transmission by actuating the clutch lever on the steering mechanism;
- and
- driving the motorcycle forward.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.